diff --git a/lib/providers/download_provider.dart b/lib/providers/download_provider.dart
index f17fc5c8..cf2117d5 100644
--- a/lib/providers/download_provider.dart
+++ b/lib/providers/download_provider.dart
@@ -880,6 +880,8 @@ class DownloadProvider extends ChangeNotifier with DisposableChangeNotifierMixin
     DownloadFilter filter = DownloadFilter.all,
     int? maxCount,
   }) async {
+    if (!_downloadManager.downloadsSupported) return 0;
+
     final globalKey = metadata.globalKey;
     final config = versionConfig ?? DownloadVersionConfig();
 
@@ -942,6 +944,8 @@ class DownloadProvider extends ChangeNotifier with DisposableChangeNotifierMixin
     DownloadFilter filter = DownloadFilter.all,
     bool expandShows = true,
   }) async {
+    if (!_downloadManager.downloadsSupported) return 0;
+
     if (await DownloadManagerService.shouldBlockDownloadOnCellular()) {
       throw CellularDownloadBlockedException();
     }
@@ -988,6 +992,8 @@ class DownloadProvider extends ChangeNotifier with DisposableChangeNotifierMixin
     int mediaIndex = 0,
     DownloadVersionConfig? versionConfig,
   }) async {
+    if (!_downloadManager.downloadsSupported) return false;
+
     _requireActiveProfileId();
     final globalKey = metadata.globalKey;
 
@@ -1384,6 +1390,7 @@ class DownloadProvider extends ChangeNotifier with DisposableChangeNotifierMixin
   /// Resume queued downloads that were interrupted by app kill.
   /// Call after a [MediaServerClient] becomes available (e.g. after server connect on launch).
   void resumeQueuedDownloads(MediaServerClient client) {
+    if (!_downloadManager.downloadsSupported) return;
     _downloadManager.resumeQueuedDownloads(client);
   }
 
@@ -1653,6 +1660,8 @@ class DownloadProvider extends ChangeNotifier with DisposableChangeNotifierMixin
   ///
   /// Returns titles of newly queued items (for snackbar display).
   Future<List<String>> executeSyncRules(MultiServerManager serverManager, {bool force = false}) async {
+    if (!_downloadManager.downloadsSupported) return [];
+
     final profileId = _activeProfileId;
     if (profileId == null || profileId.isEmpty) return [];
     if (_syncRules.isEmpty) return [];
@@ -1676,6 +1685,8 @@ class DownloadProvider extends ChangeNotifier with DisposableChangeNotifierMixin
   /// Execute a single sync rule immediately (eager path for `addToPlaylist` /
   /// `addToCollection`). Bypasses the cooldown.
   Future<SyncRuleResult?> executeSyncRuleFor(String globalKey, MultiServerManager serverManager) async {
+    if (!_downloadManager.downloadsSupported) return null;
+
     final profileId = _activeProfileId;
     if (profileId == null || profileId.isEmpty) return null;
     if (!_syncRules.containsKey(globalKey)) return null;
diff --git a/lib/services/download_manager_service.dart b/lib/services/download_manager_service.dart
index c3a47afb..ae0306df 100644
--- a/lib/services/download_manager_service.dart
+++ b/lib/services/download_manager_service.dart
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ import 'package:sentry_flutter/sentry_flutter.dart';
 
 typedef MediaClientResolver = MediaServerClient? Function(String serverId, {String? clientScopeId});
 
+const bool _tvosBuild = bool.fromEnvironment('TVOS_BUILD');
+
 class _DownloadContext {
   final MediaItem metadata;
   final DownloadQueueItem queueItem;
@@ -56,6 +58,7 @@ class DownloadManagerService {
   final AppDatabase _database;
   final DownloadStorageService _storageService;
   final MediaServerHttpClient _http;
+  final bool? _downloadsSupportedOverride;
 
   final _progressController = StreamController<DownloadProgress>.broadcast();
   Stream<DownloadProgress> get progressStream => _progressController.stream;
@@ -92,6 +95,7 @@ class DownloadManagerService {
   // Prevents concurrent _processQueue calls
   bool _isProcessingQueue = false;
   bool _disposed = false;
+  bool _loggedDownloadsUnsupported = false;
 
   // Debounce timers for DB progress writes (keyed by globalKey).
   // UI progress streams are still real-time; only the DB write is debounced.
@@ -106,6 +110,11 @@ class DownloadManagerService {
   int _consecutiveQueueFailures = 0;
   static const _maxConsecutiveFailures = 3;
 
+  static bool get platformDownloadsSupported => downloadsSupportedFor(tvosBuild: _tvosBuild);
+
+  @visibleForTesting
+  static bool downloadsSupportedFor({required bool tvosBuild}) => !tvosBuild;
+
   static Future<bool> shouldBlockDownloadOnCellular() async {
     final List<ConnectivityResult> connectivity;
     try {
@@ -137,10 +146,25 @@ class DownloadManagerService {
     required AppDatabase database,
     required DownloadStorageService storageService,
     MediaServerHttpClient? http,
+    @visibleForTesting bool? downloadsSupportedOverride,
   }) : _database = database,
        _storageService = storageService,
+       _downloadsSupportedOverride = downloadsSupportedOverride,
        _http = http ?? httpClient;
 
+  bool get downloadsSupported => _downloadsSupportedOverride ?? platformDownloadsSupported;
+
+  bool _skipDownloadsUnsupported(String operation) {
+    if (downloadsSupported) return false;
+    if (!_loggedDownloadsUnsupported) {
+      _loggedDownloadsUnsupported = true;
+      appLogger.i('Downloads are unavailable on this platform; skipping $operation');
+    } else {
+      appLogger.d('Skipping $operation: downloads unavailable on this platform');
+    }
+    return true;
+  }
+
   void setClientResolver(MediaClientResolver resolver) {
     _clientResolver = resolver;
   }
@@ -366,6 +390,7 @@ class DownloadManagerService {
   /// Initialize background_downloader with callbacks, notifications, and concurrency config.
   Future<void> _initializeFileDownloader() async {
     if (_fileDownloaderInitialized) return;
+    if (_skipDownloadsUnsupported('FileDownloader initialization')) return;
 
     FileDownloader()
         .registerCallbacks(
@@ -396,6 +421,8 @@ class DownloadManagerService {
   /// Uses background_downloader's rescheduleKilledTasks for native recovery,
   /// then scans drift for orphaned items.
   Future<void> recoverInterruptedDownloads() async {
+    if (_skipDownloadsUnsupported('download recovery')) return;
+
     try {
       unawaited(Sentry.addBreadcrumb(Breadcrumb(message: 'Initializing FileDownloader', category: 'downloads')));
       await _initializeFileDownloader();
@@ -489,6 +516,8 @@ class DownloadManagerService {
   /// Resume queued downloads that have no active processing.
   /// Call after a [MediaServerClient] becomes available (e.g. after server connect on launch).
   void resumeQueuedDownloads(MediaServerClient client) {
+    if (_skipDownloadsUnsupported('queued download resume')) return;
+
     _fallbackClient = client;
 
     if (_isOffline) {
@@ -683,6 +712,8 @@ class DownloadManagerService {
     bool downloadArtwork = true,
     int mediaIndex = 0,
   }) async {
+    if (_skipDownloadsUnsupported('queue download')) return;
+
     final globalKey = metadata.globalKey;
 
     final existing = await _database.getDownloadedMedia(globalKey);
@@ -724,6 +755,7 @@ class DownloadManagerService {
   /// Process the download queue — prepares and enqueues items with background_downloader.
   /// Non-blocking: returns after all queued items are enqueued (downloads run natively).
   Future<void> _processQueue(MediaServerClient client) async {
+    if (_skipDownloadsUnsupported('download queue processing')) return;
     if (_isProcessingQueue) return;
     _isProcessingQueue = true;
     _fallbackClient = client;
@@ -762,7 +794,9 @@ class DownloadManagerService {
   Future<void> _cleanupStaleDownload(String globalKey) async {
     final existingTaskId = await _database.getBgTaskId(globalKey);
     if (existingTaskId != null) {
-      await FileDownloader().cancelTaskWithId(existingTaskId);
+      if (downloadsSupported) {
+        await FileDownloader().cancelTaskWithId(existingTaskId);
+      }
       await _database.updateBgTaskId(globalKey, null);
       appLogger.d('Cancelled stale bg task $existingTaskId for $globalKey');
     }
@@ -776,6 +810,8 @@ class DownloadManagerService {
     MediaServerClient client,
     DownloadQueueItem queueItem,
   ) async {
+    if (_skipDownloadsUnsupported('download enqueue')) return false;
+
     try {
       // Guard: don't re-enqueue an item that's already completed or was deleted
       final existing = await _database.getDownloadedMedia(globalKey);
@@ -954,7 +990,7 @@ class DownloadManagerService {
 
     // If this item is being paused, the holding queue promoted it — cancel it
     if (_pausingKeys.contains(globalKey)) {
-      FileDownloader().cancelTaskWithId(update.task.taskId);
+      if (downloadsSupported) FileDownloader().cancelTaskWithId(update.task.taskId);
       return;
     }
 
@@ -1014,7 +1050,7 @@ class DownloadManagerService {
         case TaskStatus.running:
           // If this item is being paused, the holding queue promoted it — cancel it
           if (_pausingKeys.contains(globalKey)) {
-            FileDownloader().cancelTaskWithId(update.task.taskId);
+            if (downloadsSupported) FileDownloader().cancelTaskWithId(update.task.taskId);
           }
           break;
       }
@@ -1520,7 +1556,7 @@ class DownloadManagerService {
     try {
       _cancelDownloadTimers(globalKey);
       final bgTaskId = await _database.getBgTaskId(globalKey);
-      if (bgTaskId != null) {
+      if (bgTaskId != null && downloadsSupported) {
         final task = await FileDownloader().taskForId(bgTaskId);
         if (task != null && task is DownloadTask) {
           // Normal mode: native pause support
@@ -1529,6 +1565,8 @@ class DownloadManagerService {
           // SAF mode (UriDownloadTask) or task not found: cancel (re-download on resume)
           await FileDownloader().cancelTaskWithId(bgTaskId);
         }
+      } else if (bgTaskId != null) {
+        await _database.updateBgTaskId(globalKey, null);
       }
       _pendingDownloadContext.remove(globalKey);
       await _transitionStatus(globalKey, DownloadStatus.paused);
@@ -1540,6 +1578,8 @@ class DownloadManagerService {
 
   /// Resume a paused download
   Future<void> resumeDownload(String globalKey, MediaServerClient client) async {
+    if (_skipDownloadsUnsupported('download resume')) return;
+
     final bgTaskId = await _database.getBgTaskId(globalKey);
 
     // Try native resume first (only works for normal-mode DownloadTask that was paused)
@@ -1567,6 +1607,8 @@ class DownloadManagerService {
 
   /// Retry a failed download
   Future<void> retryDownload(String globalKey, MediaServerClient client) async {
+    if (_skipDownloadsUnsupported('download retry')) return;
+
     _autoRetryTimers.remove(globalKey)?.cancel();
     await _database.clearDownloadError(globalKey);
     await _database.updateBgTaskId(globalKey, null);
@@ -1582,7 +1624,10 @@ class DownloadManagerService {
     _cancelDownloadTimers(globalKey);
     final bgTaskId = await _database.getBgTaskId(globalKey);
     if (bgTaskId != null) {
-      await FileDownloader().cancelTaskWithId(bgTaskId);
+      if (downloadsSupported) {
+        await FileDownloader().cancelTaskWithId(bgTaskId);
+      }
+      await _database.updateBgTaskId(globalKey, null);
     }
     _pendingDownloadContext.remove(globalKey);
     await _transitionStatus(globalKey, DownloadStatus.cancelled);
@@ -1593,7 +1638,10 @@ class DownloadManagerService {
     _cancelDownloadTimers(globalKey);
     final bgTaskId = await _database.getBgTaskId(globalKey);
     if (bgTaskId != null) {
-      await FileDownloader().cancelTaskWithId(bgTaskId);
+      if (downloadsSupported) {
+        await FileDownloader().cancelTaskWithId(bgTaskId);
+      }
+      await _database.updateBgTaskId(globalKey, null);
     }
     _pendingDownloadContext.remove(globalKey);
 
diff --git a/lib/utils/platform_http_client_io.dart b/lib/utils/platform_http_client_io.dart
index 20c155fb..dbcbeb83 100644
--- a/lib/utils/platform_http_client_io.dart
+++ b/lib/utils/platform_http_client_io.dart
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ import 'managed_http_client.dart';
 /// Shared Cronet engine so all clients reuse the same connection pool.
 CronetEngine? _sharedEngine;
 
+const bool _tvosBuild = bool.fromEnvironment('TVOS_BUILD');
+
 bool _loggedPlatformClient = false;
 
 void _logPlatformClient(String platform, String client) {
@@ -20,6 +22,17 @@ void _logPlatformClient(String platform, String client) {
   appLogger.i('Platform HTTP client', error: {'platform': platform, 'client': client});
 }
 
+http.Client _createTunedIoClient(String debugLabel) {
+  return ManagedHttpClient(
+    IOClient(
+      HttpClient()
+        ..maxConnectionsPerHost = 12
+        ..idleTimeout = const Duration(seconds: 90),
+    ),
+    debugLabel: debugLabel,
+  );
+}
+
 http.Client createPlatformClient() {
   if (Platform.isAndroid) {
     _sharedEngine ??= CronetEngine.build(
@@ -31,9 +44,11 @@ http.Client createPlatformClient() {
     _logPlatformClient('android', 'CronetClient');
     return ManagedHttpClient(CronetClient.fromCronetEngine(_sharedEngine!), debugLabel: 'CronetClient');
   }
+  if (Platform.isIOS && _tvosBuild) {
+    _logPlatformClient('tvos', 'IOClient (tvOS tuned)');
+    return _createTunedIoClient('IOClient (tvOS tuned)');
+  }
   if (Platform.isIOS || Platform.isMacOS) {
-    // cupertino_http relies on the objective_c FFI dylib, which isn't
-    // available on tvOS. Fall back to IOClient if the init fails.
     try {
       final client = CupertinoClient.defaultSessionConfiguration();
       _logPlatformClient(Platform.isIOS ? 'ios' : 'macos', 'CupertinoClient');
@@ -62,14 +77,7 @@ http.Client createPlatformClient() {
 http.Client createPlexApiClient() {
   if (Platform.isLinux) {
     _logPlatformClient('linux', 'IOClient (Plex API tuned)');
-    return ManagedHttpClient(
-      IOClient(
-        HttpClient()
-          ..maxConnectionsPerHost = 12
-          ..idleTimeout = const Duration(seconds: 90),
-      ),
-      debugLabel: 'IOClient (Plex API tuned)',
-    );
+    return _createTunedIoClient('IOClient (Plex API tuned)');
   }
   return createPlatformClient();
 }
diff --git a/test/providers/download_provider_test.dart b/test/providers/download_provider_test.dart
index ce9d59de..fabb7a23 100644
--- a/test/providers/download_provider_test.dart
+++ b/test/providers/download_provider_test.dart
@@ -72,6 +72,25 @@ void main() {
     await db.close();
   });
 
+  group('DownloadManagerService — platform support', () {
+    test('disables downloads only for tvOS builds', () {
+      expect(DownloadManagerService.downloadsSupportedFor(tvosBuild: true), isFalse);
+      expect(DownloadManagerService.downloadsSupportedFor(tvosBuild: false), isTrue);
+    });
+
+    test('recovery is a no-op when downloads are unsupported', () async {
+      final unsupportedManager = DownloadManagerService(
+        database: db,
+        storageService: DownloadStorageService.instance,
+        downloadsSupportedOverride: false,
+      );
+
+      await unsupportedManager.recoverInterruptedDownloads();
+
+      unsupportedManager.dispose();
+    });
+  });
+
   group('DownloadProvider — initial state', () {
     test('starts with empty downloads/metadata maps and no sync rules', () async {
       final p = DownloadProvider.forTesting(downloadManager: downloadManager, database: db);
@@ -330,6 +349,25 @@ void main() {
       serverId: 'srv',
     );
 
+    test('queueDownload is a no-op when downloads are unsupported', () async {
+      final unsupportedManager = DownloadManagerService(
+        database: db,
+        storageService: DownloadStorageService.instance,
+        downloadsSupportedOverride: false,
+      )..recoveryFuture = Future<void>.value();
+      final p = DownloadProvider.forTesting(downloadManager: unsupportedManager, database: db);
+      await p.ensureInitialized();
+
+      final queued = await p.queueDownload(movie, _ScopedTestClient(serverId: 'srv', scopedServerId: 'srv'));
+
+      expect(queued, 0);
+      expect(p.downloads, isEmpty);
+      expect(await db.getDownloadedMedia('srv:1'), isNull);
+
+      p.dispose();
+      unsupportedManager.dispose();
+    });
+
     test('download getters only expose active-profile owned physical rows', () async {
       await db.addDownloadOwner(profileId: 'profile-a', globalKey: 'srv:1');